Conservation groups search for rare birds in Northumberland County

Have you seen or heard a Red-headed Woodpecker, a Common Nighthawk or a Whip-poor-will on or around your property? These birds are in decline as much of their critical habitat – grassland and prairie – has been lost across central Ontario. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) and other conservation groups are gathering sighting data on these birds, building on a similar project last year involving two at-risk snake species.

“The Red-headed Woodpecker is a species of special concern provincially while the Common Nighthawk (special concern) and Whip-poor-will (threatened) are now also being added to the list,” reported Kristina Hubert, field coordinator of the new bird data gathering and education project. “These birds can all be found in grassland, prairie and savannah habitats of the Rice Lake Plains where insects – a main part of their diet – are abundant. If people have seen these species, we want to hear from them.”

The Rice Lake Plains is an area of rolling hills that include prairies, savannah and sand barrens.  It is found in a five-county area surrounding Rice Lake, but is best known in Northumberland County.  These habitats support grasses and wildflowers, and a wide range of birds, insects, reptiles and mammals. In 2007 and 2008 NCC, Ganaraska Conservation and Alderville First Nation led studies of and education on two at-risk snakes – Milksnake and Eastern Hog-nosed, both non-venomous species that prefer to avoid contact with humans.

“We have learned a lot from landowners over the last two years,” said Hubert, “We were impressed and grateful for the amount of concern that was shown for the snakes. We feel sure that landowners will be equally interested in helping to protect these birds as well.”

Funding for this has been provided by Environment Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk, and by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources’ Species at Risk Stewardship Fund.  The ultimate goal of the project gather information and raise awareness in order to better help the recovery of these species.  Field staff hired by NCC will be visiting with interested landowners, providing information to encourage proper habitat management for species at risk.

Selected landowners in the Rice Lake Plains area will receive a mailing or on-site visit in October regarding these birds and snakes.  Landowners and other individuals who have seen or heard any of these species this year, or who would like more information on how to identify these birds, are encouraged to contact NCC staff at 705-761-6466 or 905-862-2642 To download species information, please visit www.natureconservancy.ca/rlpbirds. Photographs of animals and/or habitat, and habitat details of where an animal of interest was seen are encouraged.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is Canada’s leading land conservation organization. Since 1962, NCC has helped to protect more than 2 million acres (800,000 hectares) of ecologically significant land nationwide.

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Contacts:

Kristina Hubert
Nature Conservancy of Canada
705-761-6466

Todd Farrell
Nature Conservancy of Canada
905-862-2642
todd.farrell@natureconservancy.ca